Given the reasonable success of its Sprinter over here, along with other recent commercial transplants from Europe, namely the Ford Transit Connect and upcoming Fiat based offerings from Chrysler, it probably isn’t surprising that Mercedes is looking at importing the Sprinter’s baby brother, the Vito, as an option.
On sale in European markets since 1996 both as a commercial panel van and passenger carrier, the Vito is currently offered in three different lengths across the pond, along with two roof heights, a choice of rear or all-wheel drive and a range of CDI direct injection diesel engines.
If the idea of importation goes beyond merely a suggestion, it is likely Mercedes might uncover a sizeable niche for mid-size cargo vans with the Vito, since currently, neither Ford, Chrysler, nor GM (since the demise of the Astro/Safari) has anything that would directly compete with it at present, though if Chrysler does offer a version of the lighter duty Fiat Ducato, things could get interesting. Watch this space.
[Source: Autoblog]